Apparatus for extrusion molding of plastic articles



Dec. 14, 1948.. s, MYERSQN 2,456,141

APPARATUS FOR EXTRUSION MOLDING 0F PLAS'I IC ARTIGLES Filed May 6, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5:77:07; war-son Dec. 14, 1948. s, MYERSON 2,456,141

' APPARATUS FOR EXTRUSION MOLDING OF PLASTIC ARTICLES Filed May 6, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 41 ya I J6 J7 J7 l atenteol Dec. 14?, 1948 v scar ouirso stirs 2,456,141

APPAREEHJS FGR EXTRUSIQN IVEQLDENGQF PLASTIC Simon Myerson; Ero'ci Application May 6, 1946, Serf:

( Cl. iii- 12) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel apparatus and method for manufactur'ng plastic articles by extrusion moulding and i' is particularly adapted to the manufacture of such articles which have a plurality of united layerasome or" the materials of which have different characteristics.

In the past such articles have been extruded separate pieces and joined by cementatioi. By means of this invention, 1 can simultaneously er trude and join articles comprising a plurality of layers in a greatv-ariety of relationships to each other. For example, the different layers ma be. extruded in simple lateral parallel relationship to each other or theymay each contact one or more other members.

Materials having dii ferent color characteristics, or different physical characteristics other than color, or difierent chemical characteristics, may be blended together in a great variety of patterns. For example, a bar may be produced, the cross section or which. is such that artificial teeth having a plurality of layers may be readily pro ducedirom l ar. Though I have illustrated in the drawings a machine having screw-type extrusion apparatus, the apparatus of this invention may be used as a fixture which may he joined to one or more extrusion machines such as, are on the market today.

.Bymeans of the apparatus here disclosed, a plurality of materials may be extruded to form external and internal layers, the external layers completely surrounding the internal layer or lay ers if so desired. j

The means for so extruding and joining a plurality of diiierent layers is so constructed as to facilitate cleaning or" the machine after each use or run; My apparatus is so constructed that between runs each chamber or .passage -can "be openedinto non-retentive portions from which the plastic material may be readily removed.

An object of this invention is to provide an as paratus capable of use in manufacturing plastic articles which may be readily disassembled for complete access for cleaning of the walls of the passages through which the plastic fiows during manufacture of article. l

A further object is to provide such an apparatus which is economical in use and operation and which is cheap to manufacture.

The apparatus of this invention is adapted for use with such thermoplastic or cold set plastics and with such thermosetting or hot set plastics as are adaptable for use in extrusion moulding. Examples of the filSllClEtSS are methyl methaerylate, polystyrene, cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose,

Massf J H al No. 667,668

chloride and vinyl acetate copolymer. Ex-

of the second class are cer tin of the and of the ureas. The term plastics H specification and in the attached I such thermosetting and thermm tics but natural rubber is specifically cm t e. term plastic as used herein. e 7 eierred form of thisinvenr can a aratus having an interme- 1 war which is interposed between two or ie l'8lilli38l"$.' -11 or some of the passages e as conduits for thetrilcutary streams atcrials may be formed between the shy the intermediate member and the vinyl a iples Al phenolic inner feces of the side members so that when the si e members are movedaway from th intermete member, the walls of the passages are completei ex seed for cleaning. In one aspect oith invention, the itermediate member preterably is made with side walls which converge at the forward end oft -e intermediate member and the forward port. i of the inner faces of the members preferably abut said converging Sir. I side walls anc said faces converge to form the forthe common stream adjacent to the forward. end of the intermediate member. Upon movement of the side :rnembers away from the intermenl 'c thewalls of the passages arecompleteiyeacsed for cleanin In anotl aspect of the invention, the interme 'ate niehber its forward end is provided with frusto ccnicai portion. The intermediate me; or may haveajaclret or side member closely fitted to its sides. Thi .jaclset maybe one solid piece or it in two or more parts. The cross-section of th apparatus may be circular, rectangular orof other cross-sectional shape and it is unnecessary thatthe jacket or side member completely surround the intermediate member. For this reas n, I usually refer to one as the interinediate member v(whether or not it is composed of more than one part) and to the other as side members whether or not they constitute a complete jacket. I

:In one of the nvention, the intermediate member he L-rned with axial passage which may utilized toform the axial portion of the'co article. In such embodiment the intermediate member may he formed in two or inore.pai ",which may be separated to expos e'axial passage for cleaning. The utary passages may be for ned jhetweeizi the sidewall crwalls the intermediate member and the innerwail or walls of the side members, these passaeesextend along the outer sides of the cylindrical portion and of the frusto-conical portion of the intermediate member and converge about the periphery of the axially extending passage.

Thus I have provided a novel apparatus for the simultaneous extrusion and joining of layers of plastic materials of different characteristics which apparatus permits ready access for cleaning the walls of the passages by merely disassembling the side members and the two or more parts of the intermediate member.

For the purposes of illustration typical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention, parts being broken away and shown in central horizontal section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation looking at the inner face of one of the side members;

Fig. 6 is an end view looking at the frustoconical portion of the intermediate member;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment, parts being broken away and shown in central horizontal section;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a section of the line sis of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 7.

The particular embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustration in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, consists of two side members I6 and I1 and an intermediate member I (Fig. 6) the latter member consisting of the two parts I and I2. The intermediate member ID consists of a cylindrical portion and a frusto-conical portion as shown in Fig. 1. An axial passage I4 extends from end to end of the intermediate member II], this passage being of restricted cross-sectional area at the end toward the frusto-conical portion of the intermediate member.

The side members I6 and I1 surround the side walls of the intermediate member III. The side member I6 is secured to the support I and the sid member I I is pivotally secured to the side member I6 by the hinge I8 (Fig. 4). The bolt l9 passing through apertures in the lugs 20 serves detachably to hold the side members I6 and I! in a position wherein their inner faces abut the side faces of the intermediate member ID. A passage 2| is formed between the side wall of the member II and the side wall of the side member I6 and a corresponding passage 22 is formed between the side wall of the side member II. As shown in Fig. 1, these passages gradually decrease in cross-sectional area as they approach the end of the frusto-conical portion of the intermediate member.

A portion 23 of the side member I6 and a portion 24 of the side member I! extends beyond the end of the frusto-conical portion of the intermediate member I0. These extension portions serve to form the walls of the extrusion passage 25 which extends from the junction of the passages I4, 2| and 22 through these extension portions to the orifice 26. The cross-sectional area of the passage 25 is slightly less than the aggregate of the cross-sectional area of the passages I4, 2| and 22 adjacent to their junctions with the passage 25. Although the passage 25 as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 is relatively short, it may be elongated to any desired length by varying the lengths of the portions 23 and 24 or by adding detachable extension members similar to the members 43 and 45 shown in Figs. 7 to 10 of the drawings. This passage 25 may be of gradually reduced crosssectional area from the end adjacent to passages 2| and 22 toward the extrusion orifice 26. A plurality of such extension members and of such passages may be provided, the extrusion orifice of each being of a size different from the size of others, if desired. This extension portion of the apparatus may contain a heating device to produce a gradually decreasing temperature towards the orifice.

The conveyor belt 28 is located adjacent to the extrusion orifice 26 and it is adapted to receive and continuously advance the moulded article 21 at substantially its speed of extrusion from the orifice. Appropriate cooling means (not shown) may be provided adjacent to the conveyor belt.

Separate compression chamber housings 30 are provided one for each of the passages I 4, 2| and 22. Each of these compression chamber housings may be detachably secured to the corresponding portions of the intermediate member Ill and the side members I6 and I! by any suitable means (not shown). Heating elements (not shown) are provided to heat the forward ends of the compression chambers and the walls of the passages I4, 2| and 22. A screw-type conveyor 3| is provided in the bore of each compression chamber 30 and each conveyor is continuously rotated by any suitable source of power (not shown). Hoppers 32 are provided for continuously feeding supplies of plastic materials to the respective compression chambers.

In operation a plastic having, for example, one color characteristic, is fed to the compression chamber communicating with the passage I4, a plastic having another color characteristic is fed to the compression chamber communicating with the passage 2|, and a plastic having still another color characteristic is fed to the compression chamber communicating with the passage 22. The screw conveyors continuously move the plastic materials into and through the heated forward ends of the compression chambers and into and through the passages I4, 2| and 22, the passage 25 and through the orifice 26. The stream emerging from the passage I4 into the passage 25 is circular in cross section. The streams emerging from the passages 2| and 22 extend around the periphery of the circular stream as they merge with it and with each other at the entrance to the passage 25. As shown in Fig. 2, the stream emerging from the passage I4 forms the axially extending cylindrical portion 2'! of the extruded product, the stream emerging from the passage 2| forms the portion 21 of the outer cylindrical shell of the product and the stream emerging from the passage 22 forms the portion 21 of the outer cylindrical shell of the product.

For example, if a black methyl methacrylate is fed to the passage I4, a red methyl methacrylate to the passage 2| and a green methyl methacrylate to the passage 22, the portion 21 will be black, the portion 2l will be red and the portion 21 will be green. If both 2| and 22 are of the same material, e. g., clear, then the bar formed will have a central core of black surrounded by a shell of clear material. If the shell be of varying thickness of varying transparency of matesprain ,5 rial, a variety of color effects may be'produced at the surface of the bar. v

' Different combinations of heat and pressure may be used in the compression chambers for operating with the same material and different ranges of heat'and pressure may b used for different kinds of plastic materials.

To clean the walls of the passages M, 2|, 22 and 25 between runs, the bolt 19 is removed and the side member I? is swung outwardly about the hinge 8. The intermediat member fill is then removed and separated into its two parts I! and I2. This frees the walls of the passage M for cleaning, and it also frees the wallsof passages 2|, 22 and 25 for cleaning; As manyrpassages as are desired may be located'between theinner walls of the members it and ll and the side wall of the member l0, and each of these passages will be freed for cleaning by the foregoing simple operation. I

The apparatus illustrated in Figs.- 7 to 1 inclusive, is adapted to make an article, the crosssection of which is similar to a longitudinal section of an anterior tooth, the portion 35 of such article corresponds to the body portion of the tooth and the portion 35 correspondsto the enamel portion of the tooth. I p

The intermediate member 36 is secured to the base 3?. At its forward end the sides of the intermediatemember 38 converge as shown in Fig. 7. A pair of side membersdiland 3d are detachably secured adjacent to the sides of the intermediatemember 35:.by a series of bolts ill. Guide pins secured to the sides of the intermediate member (to slidably lit in the passages as which extend through the side members, 38 and 39 to assure accurate positioning of the side and intermediate members in assembled position. Longitudinal passages 4| and 12 are formed between the adjacent sides of the intermediate member 3t and the side members 38 and 3%). As shown in Fig. '7, these passages are of reduced crosssectional area where they join each other adja cent to the ridge which is formed by the converging sides of the intermediate member 36.

.An extension member i3 is detachably secured by screws M to the end of the side member 38. A corresponding extension member 45 is secured by the screws M to the end of the side member 3'9. Interiorly threaded passages ll and 48 are provided in. the ends of the side members 38 and 39 to receive the exteriorly threaded ends of the screws it and d5.

The extrusion passagefia is formed between the abutting side walls or the extension members 43 and 55. These walls are held in closely abutting relationship by the bolts 55. A conveyor 5i continuously advances the plastic article 35 as it is extruded from the orifice at the end of the passage 55.

The cross-sectional area of the passage 55 is slightly less than the aggregate of the crosssectional areas of the passages l! and i? adjacent to their junction with the passage 55. As previously described, the apparatus may be equipped withadditional extension members similar to the extension members 43 and 45 to provide additional passages like the passage 55 and additional orifices, and such passages and orifices may vary in size and shape These extension members may also be equipped with heating apparatus.

A pair of compression-chambers 553 are each provided with a screw-type conveyor 5i and a hopper (not shown). One of these compression chambers is preferably-detachably secured ad-l'a-r cent to' the end of the passage 4| and the other preferably detachably secured adjacent to the end of the passage 42. The screw-type conveyors are continuouslydriven in the samedirectionby any suitable source of power (not shown) Each com-P pression chamber is provided with heating 818-.- ments 52. w

A plastic material having the appropriate characteristics to form the body portion of an arti-. ficial tooth is fed 'to the compression chamber communicating with the passage 52' and a. plastic material having the appropriate characteristics to form the enamel portion of an artificialtooth is ledto the compression chamber communicate ing with the passage M. The conveyors 5i con tinuously move these plastic materials into=and through the heated forward ends .of the zoom-5 pression chambers into and through-the passages 44 and 42, the passage 55 and the'extrusion orifice which is at the forward end of the latter passage; and thence to the conveyor, 5].

The passages ii, 42 and 55 may be opened'for cleaning by removing the bolts 40 and 5Bi-and then removing the side members 38 and 39. jfrom the intermediate member 35 whichyremainssupe portedon the base 3?. The walls of. these passages which are thus exposed are readily acces sible for cleaning and they present no undercut or-obstructed surfaces. More than onepassage may be formed between each of the side members and the intermediate member. 1

When the term between is used herein andin the following claims, to describe the,v location: of a passage, it is not to be restricted to meanin that each member is necessarily providedwith'a groove or a channel to form part of the wall; of the passage. For example the forward end of the passage 2i is between the side member i6 and the interemediate member H but no grooveis formed in the forward sloping wall of the side member l6. I: Although I have illustrated and described-the side members lil -and l? as surrounding andsabut ting-the intermediate member ill and thememe her it! consisting oftwo parts, it isaobvio ls that the members l6 and H may bezunited into a single piece and likewise the;member ,|=ll,;may be made in'one piece, althoughthiswould-:be at some sacrifice to the facility for cleaning-the passageways formed therein. Y I" claim: Y 1. Apparatus formoulding'a' relatively'irrelastic plastic article from a plurality of=..v substantially inelastic plastic materials having'diffe'rent characteristics which comprises an extrusion. passage terminating in an eXtr-usionorifice, said. extrusion passage being formed throughout its length between the adjacent surfaces oli ay plurality .of abutting die members which, upon separation, divide the wall of said passage into-fully exposed segments'thereby to expose said'wall for cleaning throughout itslength, a plurality of compression chambers, a plurality of-feeder passagesyxeach feeder passage-extending from theemissio'n' end of a compression chamber, to said extrusion pas. sage, each of said feeder passages .-being-formed throughout itslength between the adjacentsur faces of a plurality of abutting die members, which, upon separation, divide .thewall'of said passage into fully exposed segments, thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, :means in said compression chambers lope erative. to force the. plastic, materials; from: said chambers through said.v feeder passageaothe lextrusion passage andi the:;extrusipnsaorifice, and

7 holding means adapted releasably to hold said die member in said assembled relationship.

Apparatus for moulding a relatively inelastic plastic article from a plurality of substantially inelastic plastic materials having different characteristics which comprises an extrusion passage terminating in an extrusion orifice, said extrusion passage being formed throughout its length between the adjacent surfaces of a plurality of abutting die members which, upon separation, divide the wall of said passage into fully exposed segments thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, a plurality of compression chambers, a plurality of feeder passages, ea-ch feeder passage extending from the emission end of a compression chamber to said extrusion passage, the aggregate of the cross sectional areas of said feeder passages adjacent to their junctions with the extrusion passage being greater than the cross sectional area of the extrusion passage and each of said feeder passages being formed throughout its length between the adjacent surfaces of a plurality of abutting die members, which, upon separation, divide the wall of the feeder passage into fully exposed segments, thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, means in said compression chambers operative to force the plastic materials from said chambers through said feeder passages, the extrusion passage and the extrusion orifice, and holding means adapted releasably to hold said die member in said assembled relationship.

3. Apparatus for moulding a relatively inelastic plastic article from a plurality of substantially inelastic plastic materials having different characteristics which comprises an extrusion passage terminating in an extrusion orifice, said extrusion passage being formed throughout its length between the adjacent surfaces of a plurality of abutting die members which, upon separation, divide the wall of said passage into fully exposed segments thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, a plurality of compression chambers, a plurality of feeder passages, each feeder passage extending from the emission end of a compression chamber to said extrusion passage, each of said feeder passages being formed throughout its length between the adjacent surfaces of a plurality of abutting die members, which, upon separation, divide the wall of said passage into fully exposed segments, thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, means in said compression chambers operative to force the plastic materials from said chambers through said feeder passages, the extrusion passage and the extrusion orifice, means for heating the plastic materials to effect bonding thereof in the extrusion passage, and holding means adapted releasably to hold said die member in said assembled relationship.

4. Apparatus for moulding a relatively inelastic plastic article from a plurality of substantially inelastic plastic materials having different characteristics which comprises an extrusion passage terminating in an extrusion orifice, said extrusion passage being formed throughout its length between the adjacent surfaces of a plurality of abut-ting die members which, upon separation, divide the wall of said passage into fully exposed segments thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, a plurality of compression chambers, an intermediate die member extending from adjacent to the forward ends of said compression chambers to the emission end of said extrusion passage, a plurality of feeder passages,

each feeder passage extending from the emission end of a compression chamber to said extrusion passage, each of said feeder passages being formed throughout its length between an outer surface of said intermediate die member and an inner surface of an outer die member, whereby upon separation of said die members the wall of said feeder passage is divided into fully exposed segments, thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, means in said compression chambers operative to force the plastic materials from said chambers through said feeder passages, the extrusion passage and the extrusion orifice, means for heating the plastic materials to effect bonding thereof in the extrusion passage, and holding means adapted releasably to hold said die member in said assembled relationship.

5. Apparatus for moulding a relatively inelastic plastic article from a plurality of substantially inelastic plastic materials having different characteristics which comprises an extrusion passage terminating in an extrusion orifice, said extrusion passage being formed throughout its length between the adjacent surfaces of a plurality of abutting die members which, upon separation, divide the Wall of said passage into fully exposed segments, thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, a plurality of compression chambers, an intermediate die member having outer faces which converge at the entrance end of said extrusion passage and extend thence to adjacent to the'emission ends of said compression chambers, a plurality of side die members, a plurality of feeder passages, each of said feeder passages extending from the emission end of a compression chamber to said extrusion passage, each of said feeder passages being formed throughout its length between an outer surface of the intermediate die member and an inner surface of a side die member, whereby upon separation of said intermediate and side die members the wall of said feeder passage is divided into fully exposed segments, thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, means in said compression chambers operative to force the plastic materials from said chambers through said feeder passages, the extrusion passage and the extrusion orifice, means for heating the plastic materials to effect bonding thereof in the extrusion passage, and holding means adapted releasably to hold said die members in said assembled relationship.

6. Apparatus for moulding a relatively inelastic plastic article from a plurality of substantially inelastic plastic materials having different characteristics which comprises an extrusion passage terminating in an extrusion orifice, said extrusion passage being formed throughout its length between the adjacent surfaces of a plurality of abutting die members which, upon separation, divide the wall of said passage throughout its length into fully exposed segments, thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, a plurality of compression chambers, an intermediate die member extending from adjacent to the emission ends of said compression chambers to the entrance end of said extrusion passage, a plurality of side die members, a plurality of longitudinally extending feeder passages, each of said feeder passages extending from the emission end of a compression chamber to said extrusion passage, each "of said feeder passages being formed throughout its length between an outer surface of the intermediate die member and an inner surface of a side die member, whereby upon separation of said intermediate and side die members the wall of said feeder passage is divided throughout its length into fully exposed segments, thereby to expose said wall for cleaning throughout its length, means in said compression chambers operative to force the plastic materials from said chambers through said feeder passages, the extrusion passage and the extrusion orifice, means for heating the 10 plastic materials to effect bonding thereof in the extrusion passage, and holding means adapted releasably to hold said die members in said assembled relationship.

SIMON MYERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

